Bristol-based Hotcha, the UK’s fastest growing Chinese takeaway and delivery chain, opened its 13th outlet yesterday as it continues its expansion across the South of England.
Founded in 2011 by entrepreneurs James Liang and Andy Chan, Hotcha has grown by serving up freshly made dishes in high street locations – and in doing so has transformed the way Chinese fast food is prepared and delivered. 
Its first outlet was in Bristol, and it now has a number of branches in the city as well as in Bath, Stroud, Yate, Swindon, Yate, Newbury and Exeter. Its latest is in Bournemouth, pictured, where it has opened on Wimborne Road close to popular retail and food brands such as Wilko, Waitrose and Domino’s Pizza.
Last year it received £7.5m in a finance round to fund growth and plans to open another 10 branches in the West and also have franchised outlets in the North and South East to take its total portfolio to around 100 by 2020.
Hotcha creates its dishes and menus in its centralised kitchen, a 19,000 sq ft industrial unit at in Hengrove which it moved to earlier this year.
This allows it to standardise product quality, with all core ingredients including meat, fish and vegetables prepared by a carefully selected third party while marinades and sauces are prepared by Hotcha’s chefs.
The freshly-made products are then sent to outlets where they are used to prepare dishes in line with Hotcha’s house recipes and presentation styles.
James Liang recently appeared on the prestigious Maserati 100 list, which brings together a diverse group of high-calibre individuals who are not only helping contribute to UK economic growing UK but also provide much needed support to tomorrow’s business leaders.
James said: “Our ambition is to become the first national Chinese takeaway chain in the UK and the opening our latest store in Bournemouth is a natural step as we continue our rapid growth from our beginnings in Bristol six years ago.
“Following our funding round in 2016, we remain well positioned to deliver our pipeline of a further five stores openings across the UK in 2017.”
Unlike other food delivery operators, Hotcha pays its in-store and delivery drivers a fixed hourly wage, with both sick and holiday pay accrued.
